CU15G Recap: August 10, 2016
ORLANDO, Florida – The second day of play in the 2016 CONCACAF U-15 Girls’ Championship saw two close encounters between the Confederation’s traditional powers on Wednesday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
Also, a pair of squads bounced back from opening-day losses to earn their first wins of the competition, while another remained perfect with a second consecutive triumph by the same score.
In the game of the day, the United States (2W-0D-0L, 6 points) edged Mexico (1-0-1, 3), 1-0, on Mia Fishel’s goal with 10 minutes remaining in normal time. Canada (2-0-0, 6) made a serious statement of intent to retain its title, scoring a goal in each half to post a 2-0 victory over relentless Costa Rica (1-0-1, 3).
Trinidad & Tobago (1-0-1, 3) didn’t let a 22-0 loss to the U.S. a day earlier deter it from offering the best response in topping the Dominican Republic (0-0-1, 0), 4-0, as Aaliyah Prince struck for a hat-trick. On the heels of a loss Tuesday, St. Lucia (1-0-1, 3) earned its first win, turning on the offense in a 5-1 triumph over St. Vincent & the Grenadines (0-0-1, 0).
Puerto Rico outdistanced an opponent for a second straight day by the same 4-1 result, with Nicaragua falling on this occasion.
Eight sides -- Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Curacao and the US Virgin Islands -- will all take to the field for first time when play resumes on Thursday.
Click here for all the CU15G news, statistics and features.
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2016 CONCACAF U-15 Girls’ Championship
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex – Orlando, Florida, USA
Match Recaps – August 10, 2016
GROUP A
Mexico 0, United States 1
The United States may not have come close to equaling the 22-goal mark as it did against Trinidad & Tobago on Tuesday, but it accomplished something equally important – not allowing the opponent to score. Mia Fishel (60’) scored the game’s only in the second half of a 1-0 win over Mexico, which was on top of its game throughout the morning. Gabrielle Robinson, who scored a tournament record five goals in the victory over T&T, didn’t start, but she entered as a 51st minute substitute.
Trinidad & Tobago 4, Dominican Republic 0
A gutsy Trinidad & Tobago side rebounded from Tuesday’s 22-0 loss to the USA with a 4-0 win over the Dominican Republic. After Annika Daniel (2’) put T&T ahead early, Aaliyah Prince (55’ pen, 64’, 69’ pen) extended the lead by exploding for three second-half goals.
GROUP B
Costa Rica 0, Canada 2
In a tightly-contested match, Canada got a goal in each half to down Costa Rica, 2-0. Sidney Kennedy (24’) and Jordyn Huitema (55’) netted on each side of the break. The Canadians posted a second consecutive shutout. Huitema, who finished coolly off a splendid through ball by substitute Aaliyah Scott, played in the 2014 edition of the U-15 competition and the CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s Championship contested earlier this year in Grenada.
Venezuela 1, El Salvador 2
All the goals were scored in the second half as El Salvador earned a 2-1 win over guest-side Venezuela. Lesly Calderon (40’, 53’) was the offensive standout, striking twice within a 13-minute stretch to a give the Central Americans a 2-0 lead. Maria Cazorla (68’) halved the deficit, but despite its best efforts, Venezuela found the Salvadoran defense difficult to crack a second time.
GROUP C
Nicaragua 1, Puerto Rico 4
Dynamic Puerto Rico jumped out to a 3-0 lead within 19 minutes on the way to a 4-1 win over Nicaragua. Four different players accounted for the Puerto Rican goals, with Yarielis Maldonado (7’), Maria Colon (10’), Isabelle Rivera (19’) and Gabriela Torres (67’) getting their names on the scoresheet. After the initial barrage, Nicaragua edged into the match and were rewarded for their persistence as Dayana Calero (65’) made it 3-1.
St. Lucia 5, St. Vincent & the Grenadines 1
St. Lucia came out on top in this all-Caribbean battle, 5-1. Britanya St. Prix (11', 37') led the way for the winner with a brace, while Tessa Jones (23'), Geen Henry (64') and Tanika Bernard (69') added a goal each. Arriel Delplache (46') scored to pull SVG within two goals. The St. Lucians bounced back from a 4-1 loss to Puerto Rico a day earlier, while SVG made its tournament debut.